Push button mechanism for tuning radio receivers



June 1944- c. METCALFE ET AL 2,351,443.

PUSH BUTTON MECHANISM FOR TUNING RADIO RECEIVERS Filed Nov. 25, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENIPRS CL/FFORDM TCALFE E HARRg/g/lZd/iR/SH h BY 7 ATTORNEY June 13, 1944. Q METcALFE T AL 2,351,443

PUSH BUTTON MECHANISM FOR TUNING RADIO RECEIVERS I Filed Nov. 25, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS CLIFFORD METCALFE H/ RY JOHN P R/Sl-l ATTORNEY Patented June-13, 1944 PUSH BUTTON MECHANISM FOR TUNING nsnro REcEIvERs Cliflord Metcalte, Ruislip,

and Barry John Parr sh, Sidmouth, England, assignors to Electric at Musical Industri dlesex,

es Limited, Hayes, Mid- England, a company of Great Britain Application November 25, 1939,-Serial No.

In Great Britain November 26, 1938 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in push button tuning mechanisms for radio receivers which also have manual tuning, and particularly but not exclusively to radio receivers comprising mechanical push button tuning mechanisms; that is to say to the type of mechanisms in which operation of a push button causes the tuning device of the receiver to be moved directly through the medium of a suitable linkage or coupling to predetermined station reception nism in which operation of the tuning is effected by an electric motor.

Heretofore in radio receivers having push button tuning mechanisms the manual means are also operated on operation of the push button tuning mechanism and in view of the usual reing means an extra load is placed on the motor or in the case of mechanical push button m'echanisms the push buttonsare found to be difficult to depress owing. to the constraint resulting from the manual tuning means.

It is'the object of the present invention to provide an improved radio receiver with a view to avoiding these disadvantages v According to one feature of the present invention there is provided a radio receiver compris-' ing a push-button tuning mechanism and a manual tuning device wherein means are provided operated on depression of any-of the push-buttonsfor rendering the manual tuning device in-operative, said manual tuning device being rendered operative again on said push button ceasing-to be depressed.

According to another feature of the present invention there is provided a radio receiver comprising a manual tuning device and a.me chanical push button tuning mechanism, the tuning element of the receiver. being driven for manual tuning through the medium of a coupling .device and wherein on depression of a push button said coupling device is adjusted to an inoperati've position by a mechanical connection between said push button and said coupling device, so-

that the manual tuning means is'rendered inoperative, so as to remove the constraint to the push button tuning mechanism which would otherwise exist, said coupling device being rendered operative to drive said tuning element on said push button ceasing to be depressed.' A radio receiver incorporating the present invention may be tuned by utilising the pushbutton mechanism for setting the radio receiver to the required station, the manual tuning device thereafter'being used to obtain the tuning means, if required.

In order that the present invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, it will now be described with'reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate em fine setting of bodiments of the present invention by way of expositions as distinct from the type of mechaample, and in which:

Figures 1 and 2 illustrate respectively end-on and front view; of a radio receiver incorporating one embodiment of the present invention,

- Figure 1 being a section on the line. l-i o1 Fig-v .duction gearing associated with the manual tunhrs 2.

Figures 3 and 4 illustrate respectively end-on and front views of a radio receiver incorporating another embodiment! the present invention, Figure 3 beinga section on the line 3-3 of Figure 4. Similar parts in the Figures 1 to} are indicated by the same reference numerals.

The embodiments described herein are radio receivers incorporating the invention together with mechanical push button tuning device,

- wherein operation of a push button causes the tuning device of the receiver to be moved direct- 1y through the medium of a suitable linkage to predetermined station reception positions.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 a series of push buttons I are carried on arms 2 slidably mounted in the chassis of the radio receiver at suitably spaced intervals from each other. Any of the push buttons i may be readily depressed by finger pressure and so moved against the restraining action' or a spring- (not shown) which is fixed to a point on the arm 2 and to a point on the chassis, this spring serving to return the pushbutton to its original position. after the pressure applied to the push button isremoved. When a push button is depressed-the. arm 2 as a whole is moved to the right in Figure 1, a slight amount of movement of the arm causing the end of the arm to come into contact with a butterfly vane 3 which extendsdongitudinally along the chassis and has trunnions l rotating in bearings suitably disposed on the chassis, further movement of the arm 2"to the right causes the end of the arm 2 to rotate the vane 3.. Mounted concentrically about one of the trunnions I is a disc I and rotation of the plate 3 causesa corresponding rotation of the disc 5, the disc I having fixedthereto an arm a to the lower end '01 which is pivoted an end of am 6, the other end of which posses-through ,a lever 1,..and is provided with a-lug 8 whichbears against the lever I.

Movement-of link r to the right in Figure 1, v thus causes the lever I to more to the rightjbout In carrying out the present invention, equivalent mechanical means to the means described for disconnecting the manual tuning means while the push button mechanism is being operated may be utilised.

We claim:

1, In radio signalling apparatus provided with a tuning mechanism which is selectively operable by a manual tuning device or by push button tuning means, an elongated member pivoted to turn about its longitudinal axis, a driving connection between said member and said tuning mechanism, push button operated plungers longitudinally movable transversely to said axis between a released position and a maximum depressed position, individually adjustable means on each of said plungers, each of said means cooperating with said elongated member for swinging said elongated member to a predetermined angular position when said means are brought against said elongated member in operating its associated plunger from its released position to its maximum depressed position, an actuating member carried by the tuning mechanism, a manually operable tuning instrumentality, means for frictionally coupling said tuning instrumentality to the tuning mechanism actuating member to thereby provide a driving connection between them, and lever means operated by said plungers for uncoupling the friction means when any one of said plungers is in any position excepting a position which is within a an elongated member narrow range of positions which includes the released position.

2. In signalling apparatus including a tuning mechanism selectively operable by a. manual tuning means or by push button tuning means, pivoted to turn about its longitudinal axis, a driving connection between said member and the tuningmechanism, a plurality of plungers each thereof being longitudinally movable transversely to said axis, said plungers being mounted so that one end portion of each plunger passes through said axis, said elongated member being perforated in its central portion to permit said end portions of the plungers to extend therethrough, individual means mounted on each of said plungers intermediate its two ends, each acting upon depression of its associated plunger to swing said elongated member to a predetermined angular position, an actuating member carried by the tuning mechanism, a manually operable tuning knob, a normally spring-pressed member for frictionally coupling the tuning knob and the tuning mechanism actuating member whereby the operation of one will cause a corresponding operation of the other, and means cooperating with the portions of the plungers which extend through the elongated member for making the spring-pressed member inefl'ectual upon depression of any one of said plungers.

CLIFFORD mm. HARRY JOHN PARRISH. 

